Gaza Civil Defense teams recover 48 bodies from the hospital courtyard, while dozens of families await answers about loved ones still buried at the site.
Gaza’s Civil Defense agency said its teams exhumed 48 bodies from Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City on Thursday.
The hospital once served as Gaza’s largest medical facility. Repeated fighting has severely damaged the complex since the war began.
According to Civil Defense spokesman Mahmoud Bassal, relatives identified 38 of the recovered bodies. Families then took the remains to other cemeteries for reburial.
Officials transferred the remaining 10 bodies to the Ministry of Health’s forensic department. Specialists will attempt to identify them.
Around 160 Bodies Remain at the Hospital
Bassal said around 160 bodies remain buried within the Al-Shifa complex. Civil Defense teams plan to continue the exhumation process for several more days.
Rescuers have faced difficult conditions while searching the hospital grounds. AFP footage showed workers digging through the courtyard and removing bags believed to contain human remains.
The teams wrapped the remains in blankets before carrying them away from the site.
Families Return to Identify Their Loved Ones
For families, the recovery has reopened painful memories of the war.
Gaza resident Mohammed Abu Asi came to Al-Shifa after learning that his brother’s remains had been recovered. He identified the body before taking it for reburial.
Another resident, Suha Al-Sharif, arrived with hopes of finding her missing son. She said she remembered the clothes he had been wearing and hoped they could help identify him.
Al-Shifa Has Faced Repeated Fighting
Al-Shifa Hospital has faced repeated Israeli military operations during the Gaza war. The facility suffered extensive damage during fighting and is no longer functioning as it once did.
The United Nations has previously reported concerns over bodies found in and around hospitals in Gaza. In 2024, the UN human rights office said hundreds of bodies had been recovered from burial sites at Al-Shifa and Nasser hospitals.
Israeli authorities have disputed some Palestinian allegations about the handling of bodies. The Israeli military previously said its forces examined bodies at burial sites while searching for hostages and returned them afterward.
Exhumation Work Continues
The latest operation aims to return identified remains to their families. Officials will send unidentified bodies for forensic examination.
Around 160 bodies reportedly remain at the hospital complex. Civil Defense teams are expected to continue their work over the coming days.
For families searching for missing relatives, each recovered body could bring either confirmation or another painful wait.
